In short
Athens is the cheaper capital: a single person with a central 1-bedroom spends about €1,500 a month, against about €2,150 in Madrid. Spain offers Americans a digital nomad visa and a retirement visa. Greece offers Americans a digital nomad visa, a retirement visa and a golden visa. Citizenship takes about 10 years of residence in Spain and 7 in Greece. Every figure below is checked against official sources.
The verdict
Which Country Fits You?
Where one side is clearly better for most Americans, it gets the point — the rest depends on your plans.
Choose Spain if…
- You live on a pension or savings and want the lower bar: Non-lucrative visa — €2,400 a month; no work at all, not even remote.
- You work remotely and want the lower bar: Digital nomad visa — about €2,849 a month (€34,188 a year); permit up to 3 years.
- You want to apply after arriving visa-free: for the digital nomad and entrepreneur permits — at the UGE, also during a visa-free stay.
Choose Greece if…
- You want lower costs — about €650 a month less for a single person with a central 1-bedroom in Athens.
- You want citizenship sooner: 7 years, B1 Greek and civics exam; dual citizenship allowed.
- You want residence through investment: Golden visa — €800,000 property in Athens and popular islands, €400,000 elsewhere, €250,000 to convert or restore a building; 5-year permit. Spain's is closed.
- You will run a company — corporate tax is 22%.
Retirement Visa
Spain Asks Less Income From Retirees
| Spain | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| Retirement / passive-income visa | SpainNon-lucrative visa — €2,400 a month; no work at all, not even remote✓ | GreeceFinancially independent person — €3,500 a month; no work |
| Public healthcare | SpainPublic SNS for workers; others can buy in after 1 year — €60 a month under 65 | GreecePublic cover through social-security contributions; FIP and golden-visa holders need private insurance |
| Special tax regime | SpainBeckham regime — 24% flat up to €600,000 for 6 years (incl. digital nomads) | Greece7% flat on all foreign income for retirees with a foreign pension, up to 15 years |
Cost of Living
Athens Is About €650 a Month Cheaper
| Spain | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-bed apartment, city centre | Spainabout €1,332 (Madrid) | Greeceabout €665 (Athens)✓ |
| 1-bed apartment, outside centre | Spainabout €1,066 (Madrid) | Greeceabout €575 (Athens)✓ |
| Everyday costs, single person (no rent) | Spainabout €820 (Madrid) | Greeceabout €835 (Athens) |
| Total a month — single, central 1-bed | Spainabout €2,150 (Madrid) | Greeceabout €1,500 (Athens)✓ |
Living costs: Numbeo estimates for the capital (2026), as shown with sources on each city guide and in the key facts below.
Settling In
Greece Leads to Citizenship Sooner
| Spain | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| Permanent residence | SpainLong-term residence after 5 years | GreeceLong-term residence after 5 years, with Greek language and civics |
| Citizenship | Spain10 years for Americans, plus A2 Spanish and civics exams | Greece7 years, B1 Greek and civics exam; dual citizenship allowed✓ |
| Public healthcare | SpainPublic SNS for workers; others can buy in after 1 year — €60 a month under 65 | GreecePublic cover through social-security contributions; FIP and golden-visa holders need private insurance |
Tax & Business
Taxes & Company Rules
| Spain | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| Special tax regime | SpainBeckham regime — 24% flat up to €600,000 for 6 years (incl. digital nomads) | Greece7% flat on all foreign income for retirees with a foreign pension, up to 15 years |
| Usual company | SpainSL — capital from €1; online formation through CIRCE | GreeceIKE — capital from €1; no notary with standard articles |
| Corporate tax | Spain25% (23% or less for smaller companies, 15% for new ones) | Greece22%✓ |
US citizens & Green Card holdersThe US still taxes you
Wherever you live, the US taxes its citizens on worldwide income. You keep filing a US return, and an FBAR once your foreign accounts total more than $10,000 at any time in the year.
Daily Life
Daily Life in Madrid and Athens
| Spain | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| Population (capital) | SpainAbout 3.5 million; 7.1 million in the region | GreeceAbout 643,000; 3.8 million in Attica |
| Public transport (capital) | SpainZone A monthly pass €32.70 (2026) | GreeceMonthly pass €27; metro to the airport €9 |
| Nonstop flights to the US | SpainIberia nonstop from 8 US cities, plus American, Delta, United | GreeceAbout 10 hours nonstop from New York — year-round and seasonal routes |
| English | Spain36th in the world, "moderate" (EF 2025) | Greece20th in the world (EF 2025) |
| Currency | SpainEuro | GreeceEuro |
FAQ
Spain or Greece? Your questions
Is Madrid or Athens cheaper?
Athens is cheaper: a single person with a central 1-bedroom spends about €1,500 a month there, against about €2,150 in Madrid (Numbeo, 2026). Rent for a central 1-bedroom is about €1,332 in Madrid and €665 in Athens.
Can I retire in Spain or Greece as an American?
Spain: Non-lucrative visa — €2,400 a month; no work at all, not even remote. Greece: Financially independent person — €3,500 a month; no work.
How long until I can get citizenship?
Spain: 10 years for Americans, plus A2 Spanish and civics exams. Greece: 7 years, B1 Greek and civics exam; dual citizenship allowed.
Do I still pay US taxes if I move?
Yes. The US taxes its citizens on worldwide income wherever they live. You keep filing a US return, and an FBAR once your foreign accounts total more than $10,000. Foreign tax credits and the treaties usually prevent paying twice on the same income.
Spain vs Greece: key factsLast verified 1 October 2026
| Spain: 1-bed apartment, Madrid | about €1,332 a month in the centre, €1,066 outside (Numbeo, October 2026) estimate Source: Numbeo – Cost of Living in Madrid |
|---|---|
| Spain: Living costs, single person (Madrid) | about €820 a month without rent — about €2,150 with a central 1-bedroom estimate Source: Numbeo – Cost of Living in Madrid |
| Greece: 1-bed apartment, Athens | about €665/month in the centre, €575 outside estimate Source: Numbeo: cost of living in Athens (Sep 2026) |
| Greece: Living costs, single person (Athens) | about €835/month without rent estimate Source: Numbeo: cost of living in Athens (Sep 2026) |
| Spain: Non-lucrative visa | Passive income or savings of 400% of IPREM — €2,400 a month or €28,800 a year in 2026 — plus €600 a month (€7,200 a year) per dependant; no work of any kind, including remote work Source: Consulate General of Spain in New York – Non-Working Residence Visa · Consulate General of Spain in Chicago – Non-Lucrative Residence Visa |
| Greece: Financially independent person (FIP) | €3,500 a month (€42,000 a year), +20% for a spouse and +15% per child; no work in Greece Source: TaxLaw Greece: residence permit for financially independent persons (Feb 2026) |
| Spain: Healthcare | Workers and the self-employed are covered by the public SNS; others can buy in through the Convenio Especial after 1 year on the padrón — €60 a month under 65, €157 from 65 Source: Convenio especial de prestación de asistencia sanitaria (Ministerio de Sanidad) |
| Greece: Healthcare | Public cover (EOPYY) comes through Greek social-security (EFKA) contributions; FIP and golden visa holders need private insurance Source: Argophilia: optional health insurance for third-country pensioners · TaxLaw Greece: residence permit for financially independent persons (Feb 2026) |
| Spain: Beckham regime | 24% on employment income up to €600,000 (47% above) for the year of arrival plus 5 years, if you were not resident in the previous 5 years and move for a job, remote work (incl. the digital nomad visa), a directorship or an innovative business — not for non-lucrative visa holders. Optional: file Modelo 149 within 6 months of starting work Source: Artículo 93 Ley del IRPF (Iberley – consolidated text) · Modelo 149 – Instrucciones para cumplimentar la comunicación (Agencia Tributaria) |
| Greece: 7% regime for pensioners | If you receive a foreign pension, all your foreign income can be taxed at a flat 7% for up to 15 years; not tax resident in Greece in 5 of the previous 6 years; apply by 31 March Source: Income Tax Code art. 5B: 7% regime for foreign pensioners · PwC Tax Summaries: Greece — individual tax incentives |
| Spain: Long-term residence | After 5 years of continuous legal residence (no absence over 6 months, 10 months in total), with health insurance and sufficient resources; card renewed every 5 years Source: Hoja 50 – Autorización de residencia de larga duración UE (Ministerio de Inclusión) |
| Greece: Long-term residence | After 5 years; absences of at most 6 months in a row and 10 months in total; Greek language and civics, income and insurance needed Source: AIDA (ECRE): long-term residence in Greece |
| Spain: Citizenship | 10 years of legal, continuous residence for Americans (2 for Ibero-American countries, Portugal, Andorra, the Philippines and Equatorial Guinea; 1 if married to a Spaniard), plus the DELE A2 Spanish and CCSE civics exams Source: Código Civil (BOE) arts. 22–23 · Instituto Cervantes – Nacionalidad española (DELE A2 y CCSE) |
| Greece: Citizenship | 7 years of legal, continuous residence (usually after long-term residence; 12 years on other permits); PEGP exam (B1 Greek + civics, €150); fee €550; dual citizenship allowed Source: Mitos (gov.gr): naturalisation of foreign nationals · gov.gr: PEGP naturalisation knowledge exam · US Department of State: dual nationality |
| Spain: SL (limited company) | Minimum capital €1 since October 2022, fully paid in; below €3,000, 20% of profits must go to a reserve and founders are liable for the shortfall up to €3,000 if the company is wound up Source: Uría Menéndez - La Ley Crea y Crece: menos trabas y costes para crear, operar y financiar negocios · Real Decreto Legislativo 1/2010, Ley de Sociedades de Capital (consolidated) |
| Greece: Usual company type | IKE (private company): capital from €1 or even zero; no notary needed with the standard articles Source: Law 4072/2012 art. 43: IKE capital · Law 4072/2012 art. 49: IKE formation document |
| Spain: Corporate tax | 25% standard; in 2026 companies under €10M turnover pay 23% and under €1M 19% on the first €50,000 and 21% above; new companies 15% for their first 2 profitable years and certified startups 15% for up to 4 Source: PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries - Spain: Taxes on corporate income (reviewed 30 Jun 2026) |
| Greece: Corporate tax | 22% Source: PwC Tax Summaries: Greece — corporate income tax |
| Spain: Madrid population | 3,497,277 (1 January 2026), about 19% foreign nationals; 7.11 million in the Madrid region Source: Ayuntamiento de Madrid – Padrón Municipal: Primeros resultados 2026 · Madrid Economía 2026 (Observatorio Económico, Ayuntamiento de Madrid) |
| Greece: Population | Greece about 10.4 million (2025); Athens 643,000 and Attica 3.8 million (2021 census) Source: ELSTAT: estimated population 2025 · ELSTAT: 2021 census results |
| Spain: Madrid transport pass | Zone A monthly pass €32.70 in 2026 (40% subsidy on €54.60), €10 under 26, free from 65; discounts confirmed to 31 December 2026 Source: Xataka Móvil – Madrid confirma precios del abono transporte para 2026 · Merca2 – La bonificación del transporte público en Madrid extiende su descuento hasta final de año |
| Greece: Athens transport | 90-minute ticket €1.20; monthly pass €27; metro to the airport €9 (about 40 minutes from Syntagma) Source: OASA: Athens ticket prices · STASY: metro line 3 timetable |
| Spain: Flights from the US | Iberia flies nonstop to Madrid from New York (JFK and Newark), Boston, Miami, Chicago, Washington, Dallas, Los Angeles and San Francisco; American, Delta, United and Air Europa add more, and United also flies Newark to Barcelona, Málaga, Palma, Bilbao and Santiago (some seasonal) Source: BoltFlight – Iberia evaluates four new nonstop US routes (21 Jul 2026) · Aviación al Día – United Airlines … new cities in Spain for summer 2026 |
| Greece: Flights from the US | About 10 hours nonstop from New York — year-round on Emirates, seasonal from many US hubs Source: The National Herald: US cities with nonstop flights to Athens |
| Spain: English | 36th of 123 countries in the EF English Proficiency Index 2025 (moderate) Source: Majorca Daily Bulletin – Balearics fails its English test again (EF EPI 2025) |
| Greece: English | EF English Proficiency Index 2025: 20th worldwide ("high") Source: EF English Proficiency Index 2025: Greece |
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